Praying or confessional stand



Deco M H923.

1194772327 S. DUCA PRAYING OR CONFESSIONAL STAND Filed July 1 8. 1922 5 Sheezs5haet-1 @Wwf g? s. DUCA v PRAYING OR CONFESSONAL STAND Filed July 18. 1922 Sheets-Shao?. 2

BATSZ? s. DUCA PRAYING OR CONFESSAIONAL STAND Fild July 18 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A314220@ acc Patented Der. lil, i923.

STATES SANTE DUCA, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

RYNC-f OR CONFESSXONAL STAND.

Application filed July 18,

To all lw/tom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, SANTE DUCA, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York,

, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Praying or Confessional Stands, ef which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

lThis invention relates to a combined praying and confessional stand, and has for its object to provide such a stand with a collapsible confessional screen, and also with a book rack and prayer frame each )0f which may be folded into the body of the stand when not in use.

lt is the aim of the invention to assemble the screen, book rack and prayer frame compactly in the stand when they are folded, so that one will not interfere with the use of either of the other appliances, and the stand may be readily moved about from place to place as required. Moreover, the assemblyv of the several appliances is such that when they are all folded they do not materially alter. the contour or appearanceof the stand which may be used in the ordinaryy way for prayer without employing any of said appliances.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide improved means for mounting a confessional screen in a prayer stand, so thatv said screen may be quickly extended above the stand and supported in that position during the use of the stand as a confessional. The supporting means is of such a nature that the screen may be automatically engaged therewith when fully extended, and readily disengaged therefrom by simply exerting pressure on said screen in the direction of movement thereof towards its folded position.

'A further object is to provide an improved book rack or rest which may be compactly folded into the vertical plane of the stand,'or supported upon said stand in expanded position for use. Automatic locking means are employed for securing the rack in extended position above the stand, said locking means bein actuated as the rack itself is expanded a er being withdrawn from the stand or folded preparatory to being retraeted vinto said stand.

Another object is to provide an improved prayer frame which may be folded into the vertical plane of the stand, or supported upon said stand in easel form. Said frame 1922. serial no. 575,843.

may be adjusted to different inclinations, and when expanded after being withdrawn from the stand automatically becomes locked in extended position above said stand.

rlhe invention will be first hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which constitute part of this specification, and then more specifically defined in the claims at the end of the description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters are used to 'designate correspondng parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a front elevation of the praying stand with the several appliances re-V tracted into the body thereof.

Figure 2 is a sideelevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the stand showing the confessional screen extended or raised.

Fioure 4 is a broken vertical section on the line V-IV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the stand with the appliances all retracted.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the stand as shown in Figures l, 2 and 5, the stool or bench being broken away.

Figure 7 is a detailed side view of one of the spring-pressed rollers for locking the confessional screen in raised position.

Figure 8 is a detailed front view of the same.

Figure 9 is a section on the line D-XX of Figure 8.

rihe prayer stand l may consist of two side members 2 supporting the desk 3 at their upper ends, and having forward extensions i on their lower portions for supporting the stool or bench 5. The rear edges of the side members may be braced at their lower portions by a cross piece 6 shown in Figures l, 2, 3 and 5.

ln the desk 3 there is a transverse slot 7 adapted toi be closed by a strip 8 along the upper edge ofthe confessional screen 9 which is mounted to slide vertically between the side members 2 of the stand, the lateral edges of said screen being guided in grooves or ways l0 formed preferably by channeled bars il suitably secured to the inner faces of the side members 2 in vertical alinement with i the slot T. The strip 8, like the lateral edges of the desk 3, preferably overhangs the side members 2 at both ends, and may be formed with finger notches 12 to facilitate the raising of the screen. To limit thev upward movement of the'screen blocks 13 are secured to the lower edge thereof to` contact with the under face of the desk 3, see Figures 1, 3 and 4. Said blocks 18 preferably have reduced upper portions 1a to lit in and fill the slot 7 when the screen is raised, as shown in Figuresl 3 and d, to prevent vibration or rattling of said screen in that position.

The screen 9 is retained in raised position by spring-pressed rollers 15 secured to the sides of the channels` 11 near their upper ends and adapted to be projected into said channels below the lower edge of the screen, wheny thelatter is raised, as shown in Figures y3, It, 7, 8 and 9, through notches 16 in the adjacent portions `of the sides of the channels by means of the springs 17. `As shown, each of the rollers may be mounted in a frame'18 ypivoted or hinged at 19 to a bracket 2O vriveted to the side of the channel 11'. r'lhe' portions of the lower edge of the screen engaged by the rollers 15 maybe protectedby metal, as at 21, the screen frame being preferably made of wood or other light material and having its screen proper 22 formed preferably of wire mesh material or the like. 'i lt will be noted that the rollers 15 extend only partially below the screen, when the latter is raised, so that by exerting slight pressure in a downward direction on the upper edge of the screen the same may be caused to displace said rollers, whereupon the screen may be lowered or retracted into the stand. The inward movement of the rollers below the screen may be limited in any suitable manner, as by portions ofthe sides of the channels 11- just below the notches 16 which serve as stops for the frames 18 carrying the rollers, s-ee Figure 9.

The desk 3 has another -slot 23, preferably in rear of the slot 7, and said slot 23 is adapted to be closed by a strip 24 secured to the upper edge of a book rack frame or easel 25.

A third slot 43 is formed in the desk 3, preferably in rear of the slot 23, and is adapted te be closed by a strip dat secured along the upper edge of a prayer frame l5 in vwhich may be iitted a piece of suitable materialy 46 having a prayer or other inscription shown thereon. Y

l/Vhen the confessional screen, book rack and prayer frame are all retracted or folded into the stand, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6, said stand may be used in the usual manner for prayer or devotional exercises, and as it is portable and light in weight it may be easily movel from place to place as occasion requires. The top strips of the screen, book rack and prayer frame, when folded, are all flush with the desk top, and said appliances kare completely housed 'in the stand. Yet, when any one of said appliances is to be used it may be quickly projected from the stand and retained in proper position 'for use as a part of the stand. The locking means for each of the appliances may be actuated from the top of the desk, so that it is unnecessary to reach under or behind the desk or stand to release or fasten said appliances in projected positions.

No claims are made herein to the book rack rand prayer frame as divisional applications therefor have ybeen filed on December 11, 1922.

l lclaim 1. The combination with a praying stand having a desk with a slot there-in, of a confessional screen adapted to be retracted into said stand through said slot, anda strip rigidly secured to the upper edge of said screen and by means of which it may be pro-- jected and retracted, said strip closing ysaid slot and lying flush with the top of the desk when the screen is retracte 2. rlhe combination with a praying stand having a desk with a slot therein, of av confessional screen having a rigid vertical frame adapted to be retracted into said stand through said slot, and a strip rigidly secured to the upper edge of said screen and having gripping means for raising therlatter, said` strip closing said slot and lying Hush with the top of the desk when the screen is retracted. l

3. The combination with having a desk with a slot therein, of a confessional screen adapted' to be retracted into said stand through said slot, and a stri I rigidly secured to the upper edge of screen and having gripping'means" at its ends overhanging thev sides of the stand-for raising said screen, said strip closing said slot and' lying flush with the top of the desk when the screen is retracted.

4. The combination with a praying stand having a desk, of a confessional screen having a rigid vertical frame to slide through said slot into the body of the stand, springpressed stopsy adapted to engage the under edge of the screen when fully projected for retaining the saine in that position, and means to limit the movement of said stops below the screen, whereby they may be automatically displaced when pressure is exerted on said screen to retract the same. i

5. The combinationv with a praying stand having a desk, of a confessional screen naving a rigid vertical frame to slide through said slot into the body of the stand', springpressed rollers adapted to edgel of the. screen when fully projected for retaining` the same in that position, and means to limit the movement of said rollers below the screen, whereby they may be displaced when pressure is exerted on said screen to retract the same.

engage the under a praying stand 6. The combination with a praying stand having a desk, of a confessional screen having a rigid vertical frame toslide through said slot into the body of the stand, channels 5 for guiding the lateral edges of the screen 10 it is fully projected for retaining the same in that position, the inward movement of said stops into Said channels below the screen bein limited by the margins of said notches, w ereby said stops may be displaced when pressure is exerted on the Screen to retract the same.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

SANTE DUCA. 

